Method of and apparatus for milling



(N0 Modl.) a Sheets-Sheet 1. C. L. GRATIOT.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MILLING.

No. 267,516. Patented Nov. 14, 1882.

Q a Q IJVVEJV'TOR Charles L. Gmloi WI TJV'ESSES wzm By flit!" flttornemay N, PETERS. Fholorljhugnphon Washinglon.}7.C.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

0. L. GRATIOT.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUSFOR MILLING. No. 267,516. Patented Nov. 14, 1882.

L p .mv rum T012 N4 PETERS, Phutu-Liillclrmphar, wanmm D. c.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

C. L. GRATIOT.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MILLING. No. 267,516. Patented N0v.14, 1882.

W/ T NJEQSSES IN V'EJV T OR Charles .LGraZozZ Byhlr .dttornew N, PETERS,mam-Litho ra h". wnninmn. 04 c.

STATns PATENT Truce.

CHARLES It'GRATIOT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOISQ SEECIFICATION forming part ofLetters Patent No. 267,516,

dated November 14, 1882,

Application lilt-dJune Ill, 1882. (No model.) Patented in lllne'landJuly 1.1, 1882, No. 3,283.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OrmnLEs L. (i'RA'llO'l, of Chicago, in the State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Method ofand Apparatus for Milling, of which the following is a specificationwhen read in connection with the appended drawlugs.

My invention relates to a new method and a new mechanism fordegerminating, cleaning, and reducing wheat. I have recently patented inthe United States an improved mill operating byan improved method forbreaking or splitting grains of wheat longitudinally and cleaningthedivided kernelsot the germs,fuzz, and crease-dirt, so far aspracticable, by one operation, which invention I have termedimprovements in a method and an apparatus for degerminating wheat. Inconnection with such a mill, which is illustrated as heretofore patentedon Sheets 1 and 2 of the appended drawings, I use other mills of similarcharacter, but diftering in the dress of the rolls and cases, in depthand number of furrows, in rate of speed of working, and in adjustment,as set forth below, by means of which other mills I carry the breaking,reducing, or granulating operation further than in my said patentedmill, and also continue the rubbing and degerminatingoperation with goodresults.

In the appended drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in verticalsection on theline 1 l of Fig. 2, of a complete primary breaking,cleaning, and degerminating machine such as I have patented. Fig. 2 is aplan or top view of thesame. Fig.3isanelevationofafrustumshaped roll ofthe primary mill,- and Fig.4 isa section ot the roll and case,showingtheirfurrows. These four figures are the same as the drawings ofmy said patent.

teferring to the letters upon these figures ot' the drawings, Aindieatesa main supporting-frame, of any suitable construction, havingan annular flat top, B.

G indicates a vertical burr spindle or shaft, resting upon its lower endin a suitable verti cally-sliding bearing-socket, D, within alaterally-adjustable bearing, D, mounted in an opening through across-beam, E, of the main frame. The socket D is supported upon alever,

E The spindle-is provided with a belt-pulley, F, and with two ordinaryadjustable journalbearin gs, G G, movable laterall yin the bracket Handin the top cross-beam, I, whereby the vertical shaft may be alwayspositively maintained in a perpendicularposition. Fixed and trulycentered upon the upper end of the shaft is a hollow frustui'n-shapedmetallic crackingroll, K, fitting within a corresponding case, L. Theoperating-faces of the roll and case are preferably of chilled iron orporcelain. The case is provided with a flat annular bottom or hearing,M, which rests over the flat annular top of the frame, and is madeadjustable vertically and horizontally by means of screws, so that itsinner inclined surfaceshall be at equal distances from the outer surfaceof the frustumroll at all points.

N N indicate set-screws passing through the annular top of the table andbearing against the case-bottom. There should. be at least three ofthese screws, and there may be more.

0 0 indicate screws passing through lugsP P, which serve to adjust theease horizontally. There should be at least three of these screws, andfour may be employed.

Q Q indicate screws and nuts, which, when the case has been dulyadjusted vertically and horizontally with respect to the roll, serve tohold the case firmly to the table-top in the ad justed position, thescrew-holes through the bearing M being large enough to permitsufiicient lateral adjusting movement.

The operation of these parts for the adjustment of the roll androll-case into proper relations to each other is as follows: The case isfirst suspended, as it were, upon the roll, the screws Q Q beingretracted and the lever E being operated by means of the hand-wheel ornut Q to lift the roll and case, so that the annular bottom bearing ofthe case shall be clear of its bearing on top of the frame. As the caseexactly fits the roll, this will insure the ad justment of the interiorinclined surface of the case exactly parallel with the outer surface ofthe roll. Then the screws N N and 0 O are to be merely set up snugly incontact with the bottom of the case. The roll is then lowered by theoperation of 'the lever E and handwheel to the proper position forspacing the roll and its case, according to the size of the kernels ofgrains to be cracked. This having been done, the holding-sore ws Q, Qare advanced so as to firmly clamp the case down upon the ends of thescrews N N, when the mill will be in condition for work. Any othersuitable means of adjustment may be employed.

1t indicates a hopper secured in a bracket, S, on top of the case. Thishopper delivers the g ain into a saucer-like receptacle, T, sccured ontop of the spindle, and surrounded by a glass globe, U, resting on thecase. From this receptacle the grain falls over on the top surface ofthe roll, which preferably inclines outward, as shown in the drawings,and thence is fed down by gravity between the roll and case.

V indicates an exterior casing, which may be of wood or sheet metal,surrounding the case. After the grain is passed through the mill it isdelivered into an annular receptacle, \V, thence out at one side throughthe inclined delivery-spout X. The receptacle \V is secured to thebottom of the case L, so as to move with it during its adjustments, andthus always be in position to receive the products of the mill andpermit their removal by a suitable ordinary brush or scraper. Theoperating-face of the roll is preferably slightly beveled or moreinclined, as at X, near its top, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3, in orderthat the grain may more readily tind its way, end foremost, between therollv and its case.

In order to effect the chief object of my invention, I provide furrows Yin the frustumroll, of a depth of about three-eighths of an inch at thedeepest part, extending from top to bottom upon an inclination withreference to the axis of the frustum of about thirty de grees, more orless. These furrrows, however, I prefer not to have run around upon thesame incline from the top to the bottom, but to in-- clincless fromtheperpendicular for about one fifth of the way from the top, and thento increase their inclination the balance of the way to the bottom,substantially as illustrated, These furrows in this mill should be, say,about three-fourths of an inch wide at the top and about an inch and ahalt wide at the bottom in a full-sized roll, leaving corresponding ovalcleaning-surfaces, Z, between the shallowest parts of the furrows. Thesecleanbig-surfaces or ridges Z of the furrows, being rounded slightly, donot cut, but simply break, and then afterward rub or wear and clean thebroken grain, with only very slight, if any, flouriug.

The roll of this machine I prefer to make about fourteen inches inlength, seven inches in diameter at the top, fourteen inches in diameterat the bottom, and provided with about twenty-live furrows. Theseligures may be varied somewhat in the construction of the mas chine; butthe roll must not be too long, on account of danger oi heating andllouring the grain, or too short, on account of danger oi not doing itsproper work cflrctircly.

The case is provided with correspondingshaped furrows and ridges, exceptthat they are reversed with respect to those of the roll. The result ofthis construction is that as the grain is delivered between the roll andits case the kernels will assume with great regularity a position toenter the furrows end foremost. In this position they will first, by theaction of the upper part of the roll, be cracked or broken apartlongitudinally through their creases,the grain by preference having beenpreviously screened or sized, and the case haying been previously truedand set in place about the roll accordingly at a suitable distance foraccomplishing this result. The cracked and divided kernels will thenpass rapidly down the il'urrows. Between the point I) and the bottom thehalf-sections ol' the kernels will be turned over and thoroughly rubbedon all sides, and their fuzz, crease-dirt, and exposed gern'is aredisconnected from them without breaking the germs.

Instead of having the case adjustable vertically, as described, I mayadjust the roll vertically within a fixed case by means of lever 16 atthe. bottom of the frame.

Instead, also, of having the angles of the furrows changed, asdescribed, I may have the furrows of the same angle of inclination withrespect to the roll-axis from end to end.

I am aware that it is not new to split or break kernels of wheatlongitudinally through their creases, and that methods and apparatushave been devised to degerminate and clean wheat.

I. am also aware that t'rustum-sliaped rollers with diagonal furrowshave been used for grinding coffee and other substances.

I am also aware that horizontal disk-rolls with radial furrows androunded ridges, and that parallel cylindrical rolls with similar furrowsand ridges, have been employed for cracking kernels of wheat, as a steptoward complete degermiuation and cleaning of the halfsections of thegrain; but I am not aware that a degerminating-roll has been made ofirustum shape, with proper inclined furrows and ridges, adapted not onlytocrack the grain, but afterward, during its gradual passage downwardunder the action of gravity, to turn it repeatedly in the continuousoperation of the mill and rub off and release the germsand crease-dirtfrom their attachment to the kernels, and linally deliver the productsuncut and ungrouud out of the mill at the bottom of the roll. Thepractical results of the use of such a frustum or nearly conical shapeddegerminating-roll are demonstrated by experiment to be highlysatisfactory.

lt will be readily understood that by my method the kernels, immediatelyalter being broken along their creases, are subjected to the iulluencesof gravity and centrifugal force, by which treatment the too rapiddischarge of the kernels is prevented by their being over and over againthrown off from the roll by centrifugal forceand against the case, witha tendency to turnover in being thrown off and to rub against each otheras well as against the roll and case, and that the half-kernels, infalling from the case downward against the roll, are gradually fed alongor caused to approach the point of discharge in constant rubbing motion,tending to clean all their sufaces.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a new method as well as animproved apparatus for longitudinally dividing and then turning, rubbingand cleaning kernels of wheat without grinding either the grain or itsgerms, the operation of which is continuous, speedy, economical, andthorough.

The foregoing is a description of my said patented invention, with whichI employ other mills that I will now set forth.

Fig. is an elevation of a frustum-shaped roll such as I employ in thesecond mill, to which the screened products of the first mill aredelivered in any usual way in common practice in connection withgradual-reduction milling, in which a series of mills successivelyoperate to reduce the grain and produce flour and middlings.

Fig. 6 is a section of the second roll illustrated in Fig. 5, and itscase, showing their furrows. This second roll and case may be, and inpractice in accordance with my invention are preferably, set up in asimilar frame and provided with adjusting and operating mechanism likethatabovedeseribed and illustrated with respect to the primary mill, and

not necessary to again illustrate and describe in detail.

The products of the first mill are delivered directly to a screen orscalping-reel and screened, and then the split grains are elevated intoa bin above the second machine,- to be fed through it. I do not describein detail and illustrate this screening and elevating mechanism, becauseit is old and well known, and I do not confine myself to the use of anyparticular variety of mechanism of that kind. I may use any well-knownkind merely to secure the feeding of the products of the first mill tothe second, the second to the third, and so on, in order that I mayconveniently secure the successive operation of my mills, the practicaladvantage of which is due to the construction of the cones and shellsand their employment in a series, as set forth, by the aid of ordinaryconnecting and driving mechanism.

Fig. 7 is an elevation of a frustum-shapc'd roll such as I employ in thethird mill, to which the screened products of the second mill aredelivered in the same way as from the first to the second. Fig. Sis asection of the third roll illustrated in Fig. 7, and its case, showingtheir furrows. All three of the rolls are of about the same length andthe same top and bottom diameters. The-.seco'nd roll differs from thefirst (and its case correspondingly differs) in having more furrowssaymore or less.

about twcnty-nine-and in having its furrows -'roll-say about twenty-fivedegrees, more or less. The third roll differs from the second (and itscase correspondingly differs) in having more furrowssay aboutthirty-fiveand in having its furrows more shallow-say about one-fourthof an inch at the deepest partand also in having its furrows lessinclined from the axis of the rollsay about twenty degrees, The secondroll should be more closely adjusted to the case than the first and thethird more closely than the second,to accord with the reduction of thewheat or the diminished size of the granulations. The rate of speed Ihave found preferable for the rolls although this is capable ofconsiderable variation, and must be left somewhat to the observation andjudgment of experienced millersis about three hundred revolutions perminute for the first roll and about four hundred per minute for thesecond and third rolls.

The operations of the second and third mills upon the broken orgranulated parts of the grain under centrifugal force and the force ofgravity, causing the utmost change of position of the granular parts andconstant rubbing action at all points, arethe same in the second andthird rolls as above described with respect to the first, and whatevercleaning ordegerminating, if any, is not perfectly accomplished by thefirst mill is finished by the second and third. These second and thirdmills have only a breaking or cracking and then a gentle rubbing action,so that they do but very little flouting.

I have found. the use of three mills differing in their rolls and cases,their adjustments and speeds, as above set forth, gives exceedingly goodresults in degerminating, cleaning, granulating, and reducing wheat.They show remarkably goodcapacity so far as both amount and quality ofwork are concerned; but the new method of milling wheat I have invented,and which is well carried out by employing a series of such mills havingfrustum-sha 'ied spirally-furrowed rolls and corresponding butoppositely-furrowed cases, does not depend absolutely upon the use ofthree such mills. A greater or less number in series may be used withgood effect; but I find three sufficient for all ordinary purposes andgenerally necessary, and I recommend that number constructed andoperated as above set forth. If more are employed to further reduce thegrain, they should follow about the relative differences of constructionand adjustment above indicated; but while three mills in series, asabove described, fully indicate and operate my invention, in practice itwill be found that the product of the first mill,even after screening,will largely exceed in bulk the grain originally fed to that mill.Again, on account of the closer adjustment of roll and case of thesecond mill,

lIO

its capacity is not so great as that of the first mill. The same is trueupon a comparison of the third mill with the second- Therefore, inpractice, in order to work the first mill eonstantly at its fullcapacity, it will be necessary to have two of the second mills andthree, or even four, of the third mills in place to work in concert withthe first mill. After the operations of these three mills any ordinarygrinding-mills-preferably roller-mills-in common use may be employed tofinish the further reductions, so that the flour and middlings will befree from bran.

My improved method of cleaning and reducing wheat may be practiced withbenefit with frustuni-shaped rolls and corresponding cases with furrowsof ditterentinelinations from those above mentioned. For instance, thefurrows of the rolls might radiate from the top of the roll to itsbasethat is to say, run fan-like in straight instead of spirallines--while thefurrows of the case might be inclined or spiral, andvice versa; or the furrows of both the roll and case might even bestraight or fan-like in their spread from top to bottom of the roll andcase; but theconstruction I have firstabove described is preferable.

I claim nothing herein upon the primary degerminating-mill or method ofdegerminating, per 80, as set forth in my said patent and illustratedupon Sheets 1 and 2 of my appended drawings; but

What I claim herein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The herein-described improved method of degerminating, cleaning, andreducing wheat by a continuous operation, consisting in passing itthrough a series of mills, whereby it is firsteracked longitudinallythrough the creases, the germs, fuzz, and crease-dirt released and againsuccessively cracked, reduced, and the granules rubbed clean of flourand impurities, the granulated parts in each mill being subjected to theinfluences of gravity and centrifugal force, whereby they are thoroughlyagitated, repeatedly turned and rubbed, and gradually fed along,subrtantiallyin the manner set forth. I

2. The combination of a series of mills having frustum-shaped furrowedrolls and furrowed cases, as set forth, constructed and arranged tosuccessively reduce, agitate, and rub first the natural kernels and thenthe successive granulated products, as and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto sulr scribed my name this 7th dayof June, A. D. 1882.

CHARLES L. GRA'IIOT.

Vitnesses:

MARCUS S. HOPKINS, WM. J. PEYTON.

